Toilet paper dispenser and folder system

ABSTRACT

A toilet paper dispenser and folder system has a frame subassembly having front and rear parallel panels, an upper feeder roller and a lower feeder roller. Each panel has a large aperture and a paper roll holder aperture and a lower roller aperture and an upper roller slot. A paper rotation subassembly has a cylindrical housing with a cutting edge and a guide, and roller arm and a backplate. A pulley subassembly has a rotator bolt with two threaded ends and a bushing and threaded nuts and larger and smaller pulleys each with a central hole, and a belt between the pulleys.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toilet paper dispenser and folder andmore particularly pertains to dispensing a variety of paper lengths in afolded configuration in a sanitary and efficient manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of toilet paper dispensers of known designs and configurationsis known in the prior art. More specifically, toilet paper dispensers ofknown designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for thepurpose of dispensing lengths of paper through known methods andapparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, andobvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designsencompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for thefulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,676, to Ban discloses a toiletroll holder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,792 to Morand discloses a bathroomtissue dispenser (large roll). U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,302 to Watanabediscloses an automatic toilet paper supplier. U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,500 toChen discloses a toilet-paper holder. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,882 toLewis discloses a toilet paper rotation limited having a plurality ofridges arranged in a plurality of concentric circles.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a toilet paperdispenser that allows dispensing a variety of paper lengths in a foldedconfiguration in a sanitary and efficient manner.

In this respect, the toilet paper dispenser and folder according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of dispensing a variety of paperlengths in a folded configuration in a sanitary and efficient manner.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need fora new and improved toilet paper dispenser and folder which can be usedfor dispensing a variety of paper lengths in a folded configuration in asanitary and efficient manner. In this regard, the present inventionsubstantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types oftoilet paper dispensers of known designs and configurations now presentin the prior art, the present invention provides an improved toiletpaper dispenser. As such, the general purpose of the present invention,which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide anew and improved toilet paper dispenser and method which has all theadvantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a framesubassembly. The frame subassembly has a front panel and a parallel rearpanel. Each panel has a rectilinear configuration. Each panel has alarge aperture and a paper roll holder aperture. Each panel also has alower roller aperture and an upper roller slot. The panels are coupledby a dowel-like toilet paper roll holder coupled in each of the paperroll holder apertures. The frame subassembly also has an upper feederroller and a lower feeder roller. The lower feeder roller has a threadon one end and is disposed between and coupled to the panels. The lowerfeeder roller couples to the lower roller apertures with a bushing oneach of the panels to allow for a free rotation. The upper feeder rollerends are slidably accommodated into the slots of each of the panels. Bygravity, the upper and lower feeder rollers touch each other. Thus, arotation by the lower feeder roller results in a counter rotation of theupper feeder roller thereby creating a “pulling” action. Next providedis a paper rotation subassembly. The paper rotation subassembly has acylindrical housing. The paper rotation subassembly also has a rollerarm and a backplate. The cylindrical housing is fabricated of a rigidmaterial having a hollow cylindrical configuration. The housing has acutting edge and a guide. The roller arm has a bolt hole through themiddle, is located within the spool, and has a generally slightly curvedU-shaped configuration. The backplate is flat and circular with acentrally located shaft hole. Lastly, a pulley subassembly is provided.The pulley subassembly has a rotator bolt with two threaded ends and abushing. The pulley subassembly also has a plurality of threaded nuts.The pulley subassembly has a larger pulley with a central hole and asmaller pulley with a central hole and a pulley belt. The larger pulleyis coupled to the rotator bolt with a pair of threaded nuts. The rotatorbolt is coupled to the roller arm with a pair of threaded nuts. Also therotator bolt is coupled to the backplate with a bushing and a pair ofthreaded nuts which allows free rotation of the larger pulley and theroller arm. The smaller pulley is coupled to the lower roller with apair of threaded nuts. The pulleys are coupled and driven by the pulleybelt. In this manner a user may rotate the roller arm clockwise and pullthe paper from the roll, between the feeder rollers into the spool andonto the arm, to achieve the desired plurality of layers. The armrotation is reversed and the paper is cut and then removed through theaperture in the front panel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved toilet paper dispenser and folder which has all of theadvantages of the prior art toilet paper dispensers of known designs andconfigurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved toilet paper dispenser and folder which may be easily andefficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved toilet paper dispenser and folder which is of durable andreliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved toilet paper dispenser and folder which is susceptible of a lowcost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such toilet paper dispenser and foldereconomically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide atoilet paper dispenser and folder for dispensing a variety of paperlengths in a folded configuration in a sanitary and efficient manner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved toilet paper dispenser and folder system. The system has aframe subassembly with front and rear parallel panels, an upper feederroller and a lower feeder roller. Each panel has a large aperture and apaper roll holder aperture and a lower roller aperture and an upperroller. slot. A paper rotation subassembly has a cylindrical housingwith a cutting edge and a guide, and roller arm and a backplate. Apulley subassembly has a rotator bolt with two threaded ends and abushing and threaded nuts and larger and smaller pulleys each with acentral hole, and a belt between the pulleys.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the toilet paper dispensersystem constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the system taken along line 5—5 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the system shown in the priorFigures.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof,the preferred embodiment of the new and improved toilet paper dispenserand folder embodying the principles and concepts of the presentinvention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will bedescribed.

The present invention, the toilet paper dispenser and folder 10 iscomprised of a plurality of components. Such components in theirbroadest context include a frame subassembly, a paper rotationsubassembly, and a pulley subassembly. Such components are individuallyconfigured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain thedesired objective.

First provided is a frame subassembly 14. The frame subassembly has afront panel 16 and a parallel rear panel 18. Each panel has arectilinear configuration. Each panel has a large aperture 20, 22 and apaper roll holder aperture 24. Each panel also has a lower rolleraperture 26 and an upper roller slot 28. The panels are coupled by adowel-like toilet paper roll holder 30 coupled in each of the paper rollholder apertures. The frame subassembly also has an upper feeder roller32 and a lower feeder roller 34. The lower feeder roller has a thread onone end and is disposed between and coupled to the panels. The lowerfeeder roller couples to the lower roller apertures with a bushing 36 oneach of the panels to allow for a free rotation. The upper feeder rollerends are slidably accommodated into the slots of each of the panels. Bygravity, the upper and lower feeder rollers touch each other thus arotation by the lower feeder roller results in a counter rotation of theupper feeder roller creating a pulling action.

Next provided is a paper rotation subassembly 38. The paper rotationsubassembly has a cylindrical housing 40. The paper rotation subassemblyalso has a roller arm 42 and a backplate 44. The cylindrical housing isfabricated of a rigid material having a hollow cylindricalconfiguration. The housing has a cutting edge 46 and a guide 48. Theroller arm has a bolt hole 50 through the middle, is located within thespool, and has a generally slightly curved U-shaped configuration. Thebackplate is flat and circular with a centrally located shaft hole 52.

Lastly, a pulley subassembly 56 is provided. The pulley subassembly hasa rotator bolt,58 with two threaded ends and a bushing. The pulleysubassembly also has a plurality of threaded nuts. The pulleysubassembly has a larger pulley 64 with a central hole and a smallerpulley 66 with a central hole and a pulley belt 68. The larger pulley iscoupled to the rotator bolt with a pair of threaded nuts 70. The rotatorbolt is coupled to the roller arm with a pair of threaded nuts 72. Alsothe rotator bolt is coupled to the backplate with a bushing 74 and apair of threaded nuts which allows free rotation of the larger pulleyand the roller arm. The smaller pulley is coupled to the lower rollerwith a pair of threaded nuts 76. The pulleys are coupled and driven bythe pulley belt. In this manner a user may rotate the roller armclockwise and pull the paper from the roll, between the feeder rollersinto the spool and onto the arm to achieve the desired plurality oflayers. The arm rotation is reversed and the paper is cut and thenremoved through the aperture in the front panel.

The present invention is a toilet paper dispenser and folder. It is allabout convenience. We have been doing our thing with toilet papers foras far back as we can remember, whether we are a hand wrapper, a folder,or a scruncher. Surely we find our ways of preparing it, either awkward,messy, inconvenient or wasteful and yet we never complained. We did notbecause our only choice then was either to use it or not.

The present invention is the option to be. It is the answer to a fast,neat and easy way to prepare a perfect toilet paper all the time. Enoughof those awkward and messy folds or refolds when it comes out too smallor not thick enough. No more searching for that elusive free end ofpaper especially when it is dim. With the present invention you canregulate the thickness you want each time.

To start a fresh roll of toilet paper:

-   -   a. Secure a roll of toilet paper on the paper holder. Insert the        free end of the toilet paper in between the upper and lower        feeder rollers. The upper feeder roller is in a slot so it can        easily move up and down.    -   b. To start a fold. With a finger, turn the roller arm clockwise        only. The larger pulley and the smaller pulley are connected by        a belt. Turning the roller arm transmits motion to the feeder        assembly and feeds the free end of the paper into the        cylindrical housing. With further turning, the roller arms will        catch the free end of the paper and drag it against the        cylindrical housing wall thus initiating the fold.    -   c. To cut. When the desired thickness is achieved, hold the        entire width of paper and turn counterclockwise cutting it        against the cutter.    -   d. Pull out the folded paper. After the cut, the free end of the        paper remains inside of the cylindrical housing held down by the        weight of the lower feeder roller and ready for the next use.

The parts list is as follows:

-   10 system-   14 frame subassembly-   16 front panel-   18 rear panel-   20 aperture-   22 aperture-   24 toilet paper holder aperture-   26 lower roller aperture-   28 upper roller slot-   30 toilet paper holder-   32 upper feeder roller-   34 lower feeder roller-   36 bushings-   38 paper rotation subassembly-   40 cylindrical housing-   42 roller arm-   44 backplate-   46 cutting edge-   48 guide-   50 bolt hole-   52 shaft hole-   56 pulley subassembly-   58 rotation bolt-   64 larger pulley-   66 smaller pulley-   68 pulley belt-   70 nuts-   72 nuts-   74 bushing-   76 nuts

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, thesame should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, nofurther discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will beprovided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A toilet paper dispenser and folder system for dispensing a varietyof paper strip lengths in a folded configuration and in a sanitary andefficient manner, said system comprising, in combination; : a frame subassembly having a front panel and a parallel rear panel, each panelhaving a rectilinear configuration, with each panel having a largeaperture and a paper roll holder aperture and a lower roller apertureand and a front panel with an upper roller slot with the panels beingcoupled by a dowel-like toilet paper roll holder coupled in each of thepaper roll holder apertures, the frame subassembly also having an upperfeeder roller and a lower feeder roller, with the lower feeder rollerhaving a thread on one end and being disposed between and coupled to thepanels, the lower feeder roller coupling to the lower roller apertureswith a bushing on each of the panels thereby rotating freely and withthe upper feeder roller ends being slidably accommodated into the slotsof each of the panels, by gravity the upper and lower feeder rollerstouch each other thus a rotation by the lower feeder roller results in acounter rotation of the upper feeder roller creating a pulling action;aperture; a paper rotation subassembly having a cylindrical housing anda roller arm and a backplate, the cylindrical housing being fabricatedof a rigid material having a hollow cylindrical configuration having acutting edge and a guide, and the roller arm having a bolt hole throughthe middle and being located within the cylindrical housing and having agenerally slightly curved U-shaped configuration, and backplate beingflat and circular with a centrally located shaft hole; and a pulleysubassembly having a rotator bolt with two threaded ends and a bushingand a plurality of threaded nuts and a larger pulley with a central holeand a smaller pulley with a central hole and a pulley belt, with therotator bolt being coupled to the roller arm with a pair of threadednuts, and with the rotator bolt being coupled to the backplate with abushing and a pair of threaded nuts, thereby rotating freely, the largerpulley being coupled to the rotator bolt with a pair of threaded nuts,the smaller pulley being coupled to the lower roller with a pair ofthreaded nuts and the pulleys being coupled and driven by the pulleybelt whereby a user may rotate the roller arm clockwise and pull thepaper from the roll, between the feeder rollers into the spool and ontothe arm to achieve the desired plurality of layers whereby the armrotation is reversed and the paper is cut and then removed through theaperture in the front panel. a first feeder roller and a second feederroller arranged in the frame assembly in adjacent parallel relationshipto form a nip between them; a paper strip winder arranged in the frameassembly behind the front panel, and having a pair of opposed, parallelpaper receiving surfaces upon which the paper strip may be wound tocreate a plurality of layers; and a roller driver capable ofcooperatively rotating said paper strip winder and at least one of thefirst and second feeder rollers so as to create a pulling action for apaper strip disposed in said nip, said paper strip winder beingrotatable about an axis thereof which is substantially parallel to saidpaper receiving surfaces, said frame assembly further comprising acylinder coaxially disposed on said axis and disposed adjacent to theaperture in the front panel and surrounding the paper receiving surfacesin close proximity for retaining the paper strip on the receivingsurfaces, said cylinder having an opening in a side extending parallelto a central cylinder axis for insertion of the paper strip, one sideedge of the opening having a cutting edge, said feeder rollers beinglocated outside the cylinder, said dispenser being operative to draw thepaper strip from a paper roll in said paper roll holder, between thefeeder rollers and onto the receiving surfaces of the paper stripwinder, to form the desired plurality of layers, whereby the paper stripmay be severed by the cutting edge between the paper roll and thelayers, and may be removed through the aperture in the front panel.
 2. Atoilet paper dispenser and folder system comprising; a frame subassemblyhaving a front panel and a parallel rear panel each having a largeaperture and a paper roll holder aperture and a lower roller apertureand an upper roller slot, the frame subassembly also having an upperfeeder roller and a lower feeder roller; a paper rotation subassemblyhaving a cylindrical housing with a cutting edge and a guide, arotatable roller arm located within the cylindrical housing and in closeproximity to the wall thereof, and a backplate fastened to the rollerarm, the feeder rollers being located outside of the cylindricalhousing; and a pulley subassembly connecting one of the feeder rollersand the roller arm and having a rotator bolt with two threaded ends anda bushing and a plurality of threaded nuts and a larger pulley with acentral hole and a smaller pulley with a central hole and a pulley beltthere between.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2 whereby a user mayrotate the roller arm clockwise and pull the paper from the roll,between the feeder rollers into the cylindrical housing and onto the armto achieve the desired plurality of layers whereby the arm rotation isreversed and the paper is cut and then removed through the aperture inthe front panel.
 4. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein theroller arm has a bolt hole through the middle and has a generallyslightly curved U-shaped configuration.